Non-Toxic Dad News: Dec. 21, 2023

Welcome to this week's edition of our non-toxic newsletter, where we delve into a topic that's as surprising as it is crucial - the presence of heavy metals in your Christmas chocolates. With the festive season upon us, indulging in sweet treats is a beloved tradition. However, recent studies have raised concerns about the levels of lead and cadmium found in some popular chocolate brands.

In this issue, we'll explore the implications of these findings, offer insights into safer chocolate choices, and provide tips on how to enjoy your holiday sweets without compromising your health. Stay informed and celebrate safely with our comprehensive guide to a healthier, happier holiday season.

In a recent Consumer Report, brands including Hershey's, Godiva, Ghirardelli, and Lindt and small-batch organic brands Hu, Theo, Tanza, and Lily's were tested. No brand was exempt from the harsh reality of containing cadmium and lead, although some brands performed worse than others.

Cadmium and lead were tested in 28 different chocolate bars. The shocking results showed that 23 bars tested above the public health limit for either cadmium or lead for a one-ounce serving of chocolate. Both heavy metal levels were over the limit in five chocolate bars.

Have you heard about the recent Consumer Report that found heavy metals like lead and cadmium in popular chocolate brands like Hershey’s, Godiva, Ghirardelli, and Lindt, as well as organic brands like Hu, Theo, Tanza, and Lily’s? It’s quite alarming to think that something as innocent as chocolate could potentially contain harmful toxins.

Hey there, fellow health journeyers! Let’s chat about detoxing – you know, that thing everyone’s trying to do to feel a bit lighter and brighter. But as I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way), it’s not always a walk in the park. Here are three Common Missteps that can trip us up on our detox path, and how to sidestep them in “Detox Detours: Avoiding Common Missteps on Your Family’s Health Journey.

What can we, as consumers, do?

Is chocolate something you should avoid forever? It depends on the situation. The state of your health should be taken into consideration. By seeing stress as a drop in a rain bucket that eventually overflows, we can begin to determine how much return we get on each form of stress and if it's worth investing in. In the case of long-term stress, an overflowing stress bucket usually results in a formal diagnosis of autoimmunity.

One thing you CAN do is choose safer alternatives.

So, what chocolates are safe to use as stocking stuffers? Here are the chocolate brands that were found to be the least toxic based on consumer reports:

• Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa by Mast

• Organic Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao by Taza Chocolate

• Chocolate with 86% cacao by Ghirardelli

• Dark chocolate with 72% cacao Ghirardelli Twilight Delight

• 85% cacao dark chocolate from Valrhona Abinao

I wish you and your families a safe, cozy, loving, and non-toxic Christmas, filled with happiness and memories to last a lifetime!

-Warren

We hope that you found the information and updates provided to be valuable and informative. As always, we appreciate your continued support and engagement. We look forward to keeping you updated in our future newsletters. Stay tuned for more exciting news and updates from us.